Process of treating organic oxygen compounds



Patented Mar. 21, 1939 ENT OFFICE PROCESS TREATING ORGANIC OXYGEN COB/[POUNDS assignor to Gewerk hausen, Germany, a

Oberhausen, Germany, schait Auguste, Ober-a company of Germany No Drawing. Application February 1937, Se-' rial No. 126,839. In

13 Claims.

This application is-a continuation in part of my copending application for Letters Patent Serial No. 75,250v filed April 18, 1936 for Process of treating carbon or carbonaceous compounds.

My invention relates to the heat treatment of organic oxygen compounds for the production of valuable products of various kinds. 1

It is an object of my invention to produce valuable "products and more especially hydrocarbons from organic compounds. containing oxygen, such as monovalent or polyvalent alcohols,

phenols or organic acids of the aliphatic, hydroaromatic or aromatic series.

My invention has particular reference to the production of valuable compounds from carbonaceous materialsby the action, at an elevated temperature and under high pressure, of methane.

' My invention is based on the discovery that dipol-free molecules, when acted upon by high pressure, 1. e. when the electron shells are compressed, can be polarized, so that under 'sufilc'iently high pressure the methane molecule, in contrast to all that could be expected, is no longer an indifferent, but a highly reactive compound. In principle-the process according to my v invention thus consists in that methane or a gas mixture which contains methane is caused to act upon organic compounds which containoxyg'en,

such as alcohols, phenols, organic acids or esters of the aliphatic, hydroaromatic or aromatic series, under a pressure which is suflicient to cause a polarization of the methane present in the reaction mixture. As a rule pressures 01' or above 500 atmospheres are employed.

The total pressure required in the new process amounts as a rule to 500 atmospheres as a minimum.' If, however, ethylene or acetylene or a mixture of ethylene and acetylene is present in the gas mixture in a quantity amounting to about 20 per cent or more by volume, a pressure of about 250 atmospheres may be sufficient to render the methane highly reactive in the sense explained above. I have ascertained that under the action of this high pressure the methane will not only prevent CH4 from being split off from the compounds treated, but will even causeCHtv to combine with the starting material or with 50 the fragments, into which these materials are split, condensation taking place simultaneously in certain cases. This combination may also occur simultaneously with a splitting of the car- Germany April 26, 1935 the sum of the partial'pressures of th compounds reacted with it.

In contra'distinction to prior art processes a reaction temperature of 390 C. need not be overstepped, whereby the control of theoperation is 5 facilitated and the apparatus rendered simpler and less expensive.

The temperature limit, above'which the desired reactions do not proceed any more with satisfactory yield, can be determined by means of 10 the thermodynamic formulae of the free energies calculated for instance accordingto the method of Lewis and Randall. The notation used by these authors, for instance in Thermodynamics (as published in 1923 by McGraw and Hill) 15 will be used herein. In certain cases, defined by the well known phase rule, the same is true of the limits of the molecular proportions of the reacting materials. I have found it advantageous as far as the yield is concerned, to determine 20 the reaction temperature and the molecular proportions in such manner that under the operating conditions the free energies of the reactions intended to take place correspond to a value, which (if expressed according to Lewis and Ran- 5 dall) does not exceed +5000 goal. (gram calories) per mol of hydrocarbon produced; this value may be negative. At a predetermined temperature the free energies are always equal to the expression:

so -RTZnK=11F I 4.5753 T. log K=DF From the constant K the total pressure can be computed according to the law of mass action as the sum of the partial pressures of the components of the equilibrium.

From the formula there thus results that the partial pressures of the components formed and simultaneously the yield rise, as the partialpressure of the methane rises. The rising pressure 01 the methane also favors the conversion of the free carbon, which may be present, into a non- '60 solid phase.

The reaction may also be furthered and accelerated byv adding suitable catalysts. ,However, in view of the high pressure the presence of catalystsis not necessary.

the process is. for instance applied to unsaturated hydrocarbon compounds,. mainly. a;

'combination'of methane takes place, accompanled by condensation, for instance the equation v according to I However the reaction may also be soconducted that at the same time the starting material, or

constituents of the same, is or are split up into lower molecular compounds, for instance accordingtothe=equation v.

cim+2cm+cunw2cmn- 7 Compounds containing oxygen also add-methane and according to the starting material and to the conditions of operation water may separate and a further condensation may take place; for

instance according to the equation CuHarCI-IzOH-kCHr-flnHac-FHaO,

or the starting material may be split into lower molecular compounds, for instance according-to I the equation 'cum1cmo1a+oHicmmi+cn=orr. "instead of methane also gas mixtures containlng methane may be used; obviously the partial pressurQof the methane in the system must be kept correspondingly high.

Ifthe methane or the gas mixture containing same also contains about 20% by volume or more] ethylene or acetylene or a mixture of ethylene and acetylene, the operation may also be ca'rried through under a pressure of less than 500-- andsometimes even down to 250 atmospheres. For similarly as carbon monoxide (C0).such unsaturated hydrocarbons are unstable molecules and the reaction is therefore not only stimulated by the pressure. but also by the potential energy of the'unsaturated molecules.

Inmany cases it has been found advantageous to cause the reaction to take place in a hetero- 'geneous system, i. e. in such manner that at least one .of the reaction components already" present or the final products formed remains liquidunder the operating pressure. The cleavage products (fragments) such as methane and its homologues, hydrogen, ethylene and its homologues, carbon monoxide, acetylene .and its homologues, naphthalene, other tar constituents and solid carbon," which are formedin the hitherto known processes of conversion of carbonaceous materials, are not stable under the conditions of operation of the present process,

' but will react according to the following equations with the formation of liquid hydrocarbons:

Phea an -s e r- In these equations only representatives of the difl'erentgroups (parailines, oleiines, acetylene,

. cording to the equation:

naphthenes, naphthalenes etc) are shown. The

..'reactions will occur in a similar manner with their homologues or derivatives Obviously, each of these reactions can be carried out singly or a plurality of such reactions may be carried through in combination.

According to the laws of thermodynamics carbon maybe formed in different ways when carrying through these processes. It need not be separated from a solid phase,but may also be formed. for instance from carbon monoxide according to the equation:

Iii-the gaseous phase contains hydrogen, the eiulillbriimi I may'also play a role. v

Under the operating conditions the carbon thus separated will reactwith the higher molecular carbon compounds and also with the methane.

If carbon monoxide and hydrogen are present, the new process-may also be explained thermodynamically in such manner that primarily the reaction occurs and that thereafter-the alcohol reacts with methane alone or with higher molecular organic carbon compounds and methane for instance ac- These theoretical considerations were subjected topractical laboratory tests and it was found that under the conditionsjof this invention alcohols of any kind will in fact react with methane alone or with higher molecular organic carbon compounds and methane for instance as follows.

In view of thermodynamiccalculations the reaction between carbon monoxide and methane -mayalso proceed by way of ethylene as follows -'-The ethylene'will thenhowever be decomposed again according to the equation C2H4=QH4+C. Consequently in this or similar reactions "special provision must be made for preventing the separation of carbon.

This separation can be prevented by any one of the following steps (l) The partial pressure of vthe. methane must exceed by far the partial pressure of the gaseous component to be reacted with methane;

1 (2) the reactions must proceed in a system which under the conditions of operation-contains.

at least one liquid phase. This liquid phase may be added in the form of a suita able hydrocarbon, for instance paramne oil.

These two steps may also be .used in' combination in order to prevent the separation of car'- bon. phase and the partial pressure of the methane.

- exceeds by far the sum of the partialpressuresof the gaseous components to be reacted with methane.

In this case the system contains a liquid For thermodynamic reasons. carbon does not react'with methane directly from a solid phase. 745

' In order to iurthe'rjillustratethe invention, the

computation for the reaction 7CHsOH+CH4=CsHn+7HsO may be explained. I

From the computation oi the free energy and heat of formation results the free energy of the total reaction I. or k g 1 91-="- 104 660-213.!- Tlog T+0.ii8 1 2W5 -1o4 coo-92.58 TInT+0.1i8 1 the several temperatures are computed as ,iollows? a TAbs Leg]! 600 27.12am sac 24.24am coo 21.903020 sao 15.73am 70o 10.481408 The same calculation for ethyl alcohol shows the free energy of the reaction 'gF,= 113 sec-92.19 mp. I

' 1 0.120151% o.oooooss9T'+o19.78T

It has alreadyjbeen pointed out farther above that the reactions proceed more readily. more completely. and in a more easily regulatabie manner, it at least one. liquid phase is present, Therefore oneoi the equilibrium componentseither at the starting materials or oi the products formed in the reaction-shall be liquid under. the

conditions of reaction. Inthe reactions mentloned above water will always appear as a component,.since the plurality 01' these reactions proceed below the critical point of water, and therefore the liquid phase is here already present. in

the form of waters One'may however also provide the liquid phase by injecting into the reaction chamber, besides the reaction components to be reacted in the first placealso substances which .remain liquid under the reaction conditions, such as-ior instance paraflines, paraiiine oil, vaselines. tar oils etc. ticularly useful in the case 0! reaction components having a tendency to' separate out low molecular paraiilnes. In such case heavier paraiiines added to the mixture. will react with'the light parai'iine's formed and will act towards carrying the reaction to completion within a technically admissible period of reaction.

Theivalues for the'free energies used in the ex- I amples of calculation given above are calculated for water vapor. In relation" to liquid water the figures in gcaLmust'be reduced correspondingly.

This addition is parpressure. 1

the basic reactions: i". 7CH:=CH.CH1OH (allyl alcohol)+11CH4= 'lhe iollowing are some examples illustrating v 4cann+vmo'. I

' (CzHshCOH '(triethyl carbinol)+CI-ls=' In practising this invention one may proceed I for instance as follows:

'- Example '1 f In'an autoclave" 100 kg. ethyl nlcohol r 96% were treated hourly with methane at360 C. and -underja pressure of about 600 atm. From the escaping mixture of steam and methane 65 kg. benzine were separated per hour by condensation. The catalyst in the autoclave consisted of alu- -minium -oxide, zinc oxide and copper chloride.

- Example 2v 100 kg. glycol [CzHdOHlzlwere passed per hour at 300" C. and under about 1000 atm. methane pressure over a catalyst consisting of zinc chloride, vanadic acid and magnesium oxide. From the escaping gases and vapors kg. benzines could be separated. Here the presence 0!- the methane came into appearance with particular clearness.

Example 3 In the autoclavekg. glycerine were treated hourly with methane at 280 C. under a pressure of about .800 atm. in the presence oiv a catalyst ide and zinc chloride. 'I'here'were obtained'86- kg. benzines together with water, some residual 'glycerine and high molecular alcohols.

, Example 4 In. the autoclave 100 kg. allyl alcohol cm=crrcmom were treated hourly with methane at 300" 0.- under 500 atm. pressure. 110. kg. benzines were obtained per hour.

Example s- In the autoclave 100 kg. phenol were treated hourly withmethane at 280 C. under 700 atm. pressure in the presence or a' catalyst consisting of silico-tungstic acid, zinc chloride and boric acid. 96 kg; almost pure toluene were produced per-hour.

" Emmple 6 100 kg. pyrogalloi were treated with methane at 290 C. under 800 atmospheres pressure in the presence of a catalyst consisting of ,uranic' acid,

There rechromic acid and sodium chloride. suited hourly .85 kg. or a mixture of benzine,

toluene, xylene and mesit'ylene, the composition according to temperature .and l '11s;

Of which varied 45 consisting of magnesium oxide, molybdenum ox- Example 7 r I In an autoclave oleic acid is passed together 1 with methane over an iron-molybdenum-catalyst .at 380 C. and under a pressure of 1100 atm.

From 100 parts by weight oleic acid there are obtained, beside water, 110 parts benzin'e-like hydrocarbons.

' The process may be carried through in an apparatus of the kindused for high pressure reactions, for instance in a hydrogenation apparatus; as used in the Bergius-process.

Various changes may be made in the details disclosed in the foregoing specification without departing from the invention or sacrificing the advantages thereof. v

Iclaim: i, i Y

1. The process of producing hydrocarbons from organic oxygen compounds, which comprises acting upon such compound in the.presence .of a liquid phase at an elevated temperature not exceeding 390 C. with a gas mixture, which contains a substantial proportion of methane, under atotal pressure of at least 500 atmospheres above normal and a partial pressure of methane which sufilces to cause a polarization of the methane present.

2. The process of producing hydrocarbons from organic oxygen compounds, which comprises act-; ing upon such compound in the presence of a liquid phase at an elevated temperature not exceeding 390 C. with a gas mixture, which contains a substantial proportionof methane, under so high a pressure that the partial pressure of. the methane amounts to at least 500 atmo spheres.

3. The process or claim 1; in which the treatment is effected in a heterogeneous system, at leastone liquid phase participatingin the reaction.

'4. Theprocess of claim 1, in which the treat-' ment is eflected in a heterogeneous system, at least one liquid phasebeing formed by an added substance which is liquid under theconditions 01 the reaction. I v

5.. The process of claim 1, in which the partial pressure oi the methane is chosen far higher than the sum of the partial pressures of the gaseous compounds reacted with it.

- 6. The process of claim 1, in which the matefrom organic oxygen compounds, which com--- prises acting upon such compound in the presence of a liquid phase at an elevated temperature not exceeding 390 C. with a .gas mixture, which contains a substantial proportion of methane and more than 20 per cent by volume ethylene, I under a pressure of at least 250 atmospheres which suflicies to cause a polarization of the methane present.

12. The process of producing hydrocarbons from organic oxygen compounds, which comprises acting upon such compound in the presence of a liquid phase at an elevated temperature not exceeding 390 C. with a gas mixture, which contains a substantial proportion of methane and more than 20 per cent by volume acetylene, under. a pressure of at least 250 atmospheres which sufiices to cause a polarization of the methane present. a

' 13. The process of producing hydrocarbons from organic oxygen compounds, which comprises acting upon such compound in the presence of a liquid phase at an elevated temperature not exceeding 390 C. with a gas mixture, which contains a substantial proportion of methane and more than 20 per cent by volume ethylene and acetylene, under a pressure of at least 250 atmospherespwhich suiiices to cause a polarization of the methane present.

EULAlViPIU SLATINEANU. 

